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Novo Nordisk (NVO) Announces Results in Diabetes Studies

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Novo Nordisk (NVO - Free Report) has announced a number of results from various studies to treat diabetes.

Novo Nordisk announced positive new results from phase IIIa study, PIONEER 1, comparing 3, 7 and 14 mg oral formulation of Ozempic compared with placebo as monotherapy over 26 weeks in adults with type II diabetes.

The study met its primary objective by demonstrating that people treated with any of the three doses of oral Ozempic achieved significant reductionsin blood glucose levels (HbA1c) compared to placebo. Furthermore, people treated with 14 mg oral Ozempic achieved significant reductions (p<0.001) in weight versus placebo, while weight reductions with 7 mg and 3 mg doses did not reach statistical significance.

The company also announced results from the SUSTAIN 7 study, which showed that Ozempic 0.5 mg or 1.0 mg provided greater weight reductions compared with dulaglutide 0.75 mg or 1.5 mg, respectively, in adults with type II diabetes, regardless of baseline body mass index (BMI). The greatest reductions occurred in adults with a baseline BMI greater than 25 kg/m2. While the primary endpoint of SUSTAIN 7 was change in HbA1c, this post-hoc exploratory analysis examined the secondary endpoint of change in body weight by baseline BMI.

The company also announced data from the CONFIRM study, comparing the effectiveness of Tresiba (insulin degludec injection) versus insulin glargine U300 in more than 4,000 adults with type II diabetes, who were starting basal insulin for the first time. The study showed that, after six months, those treated with Tresiba had significantly lower HbA1c compared to those treated with insulin glargine U300. As a secondary endpoint, there was a 30% lower rate of hypoglycaemic episodes with Tresiba compared to insulin glargine U300. The study also showed another secondary endpoint, where people treated with Tresiba were more likely to stay on their treatment. Those treated with insulin glargine U300 had a 37% higher rate of discontinuing treatment after two years.

In another release, the company also posts results from the DUAL IX study, which showed that Xultophy (insulin degludec and liraglutide injection) provided superior HbA1ccompared to insulin glargine U-100 (1.94% vs 1.68% respectively; p<0.0001) when used as an add-on to an SGLT-2i (an oral diabetes medication). 

Shares of the company have moved down 12.7% year to date compared with the industry’s decline of 4.4%.

 

All the data look encouraging and should bode well for the company as these candidates will help in generating revenues once they get approved.

 

Novo Nordisk A/S Price

 

Novo Nordisk A/S Price | Novo Nordisk A/S Quote

 

Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

Novo Nordisk has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Some better-ranked stocks from the same space are Illumina, Inc. (ILMN - Free Report) , Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc. and ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ANIP - Free Report) . While Illumina sports a Zacks Rank#1 (Strong Buy), Aeglea and ANI Pharmaceuticals carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Illumina’s earnings per share estimates have moved up from $4.83 to $4.86 for 2018 and from $5.57 to $5.61 for 2019 over the past 60 days. The company delivered a positive earnings surprise in all the trailing four quarters with an average beat of 23.17%. The stock has rallied 29.3% so far this year.

Aeglea’s loss per share estimates have narrowed from $1.93 to $1.67 for 2018 and from $3.86 to $3.57 for 2019 over the past 60 days. The company delivered a positive earnings surprise in three of the trailing four quarters with an average beat of 19.32%. The stock has rallied 98.7% so far this year.

ANI Pharmaceuticals’earnings per share estimates have moved up from $5.54 to $5.70 for 2018 and from $5.72 to $6.15 for 2019 over the past 60 days. The company delivered a positive earnings surprise in three of the trailing four quarters with an average beat of 8.69%. The stock has rallied 5.5% so far this year.

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